The Beatles White Album. Rare Low No. 0111144. Top Opening. Mono. Superb
£
51
$
68
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
The Beatles - White Album
First Press Top Opening
MONO
Rare Low Numbered Sleeve - 0111144
(Apple PMC 7067/8 UK Double LP 1968)
This is an original Numbered First Press example of a rare Top Opening UK MONO pressing, with low Mothers & Stampers!
It has a fully laminated and short lived 'Wide-Spine' Garod & Lofthouse top-opening, gatefold sleeve. The spine is the unusal and rare 7mm width, which was to house the two heavy-weight EMI vinyl LP's. It wasn't long after the first pressings that both the Top Opening and the 'Wide Spine' were replaced, which makes them rare and collectable, especially with a low Cover No: 011144.
It comes with its original EMI plain black inner sleeves, which have been sympathetically repaired, due to the obvious issues with putting heavy vinyl into a top-loading sleeve; namely just slight tears of the delicate black inner-paper, down-wards, where the circular cut-outs present a 'hard' edge for the vinyl. These are minor, but have been treated properly, not with sellotape, but with light-weight black paper-ribbon, light paper adhesive, which is non shrink and this has been done inside the sleeves.
The records are pressed on very thick and heavy EMI vinyl & have dark green Apple labels. All sides have the "Sold In The UK subject to re-sale prices..." text on them, which also vanished in later pressings. Also, as one would expect from a genuine First Press, all sides on all labels do NOT have any sign of EMI. Later presses would have 'An EMI Recording' under the small 33 1/3, to the left on all of the labels. This DOES NOT! All four labels, just have, 'Mft. in the U.K.' No EMI. Fantastic!
The matrix numbers are YEX 709-1, YEX 710-1, YEX 711-1 & YEX 712-1. The Mother & Stampers are LOW: Side One '3' & 'GMD' or '140', with a very rare 'error' of the Stamper being placed on the wrong side, next to the Mother and then, very unusually, hand-crossed through and placed on the correct side, at 3 o'clock; not 9 o'clock! Side Two's Mother is '5' & Stamper 'GRT' or '129', Side Three '2' & 'GM' or '14' and Side Four '1' & 'G' or '1', which is amazing in itself! These are very, low and very unusual Mothers & Stampers!
The vinyl is in original condition, with odd surface marks here and there. I would say, having listened all the way through on my NAD 2020 deck, that the album plays through well and using The Record Collector's and Goldmine Guides, as my own guidance, I would not hesitate in saying I believe this gem of an early White Album to be LP to be in E- to VG+ condition. Check the guides to give you an insight into these terms, please.
The Gatefold Top Opening Garod & Lofthouse Sleeve is un-damaged, with nothing bad and still holds its shape. The rare 'Wide Spine' is unusual to find and despite a little sagging and obvious wear, with crinkling of the laminate, it still displays its unusual width. There is no biro or ink anywhere (names or initials), which applies to the labels, too and unusually there is little visible or obvious spindle wear, just odd rubs where the spindle has been located.
Grading is, obviously, subjective and I try to be totally honest in what I see and indeed hear. This album is very nice and wholly original and a genuine example of a Mono LP from 1968, which has been payed, has some surface marks, but still plays presents itself well. It is collectable because of its original & genuine condition and because it has rare and low ID number on the front cover, with nicely unusual and low Mother & Stampers.
Postage is quoted by Royal Mail and only up to £46.00 for £4.50 Second Class Recorded. Above this in value, which I am sure this LP will go to and it will have to be sent First Class Special Delivery, so please wait, should you bid and win, for me to invoice you, as due to its weight and value it will be £7.55. You can check Royal Mail Price Finder for this and note that this is all I will charge! The benefit is that it arrives the day after posting, before 1.00pm and it can be mutually tracked.
Sales in and to the UK only.
Thanks!
price rating
